It was a notice on a board at the races. Probably the earnest man who carried it never knew the result of his humble service. But a day is coming when it and every effort for Christ’s glory will have its reward.
The unmistakable message reached the conscience of a young prodigal. He was sowing his wild oats. Giddy and careless, he pursued the path of pleasure and sin. Eternity was of small account indeed, to him.
Amid the gay scene with its noise and excitement, it was scarcely to be looked for that conviction of sin should be forced home on a man’s conscience. Yet so it was. The plain, solemn words of warning did their work, and the young man left the multitude to go its way. He could go on no longer on the road of death.
Earnestly he sought to make himself fit for God. But all his efforts at reformation did not meet the demands of his conscience.
How could he prepare to meet God? was the question uppermost in his mind. After all his endeavors and failures, his feelings could be well expressed by the words of the hymn, as he cast himself on Christ for salvation:
“No preparation can I make,
My best resolves I only break,
Then save me for Thine own Name’s sake,
And take me as I am.
“Helpless I am and full of guilt,
And yet for me Thy blood was spilled;
And Thou canst make me what Thou wilt,
And take me as I am.
“Behold me, Saviour, at Thy feet,
Deal with me as Thou seest meet;
Thy work begin, Thy work complete,
But take me as I am.”
Thus at last he found joy and peace in believing. He rested on Christ, and knew that his many sins were blotted out, and that he was clothed in all the beauty of Christ. Then he became a proclaimer of the grace of God which had rescued him.